Eric Deragisch Clutch as No. 11 UC Irvine Defeats New Mexico 5-3

ALBUQUERQUE, NM. ---Eric Deragisch drove in the game-tying and game-winning runs to lead No. 11 UC Irvine past New Mexico, 5-3, Friday at Isotope Park. The win lifted the Anteaters to 26-10 overall while the Lobos fell to 27-18 on the season.

Deragisch was 3 for 4 with two runs batted in while Francis Larson also drove in a pair of runs on 1 for 4 hitting. Ollie Linton paced the team, going 4 for 5 with three runs scored while Ben Orloff continued his hot hitting, batting 2 for 5 with an RBI and a run scored.

The Anteaters received a strong performance on the mound from junior ace Scott Gorgen, who tossed eight innings and struck out four while surrendering three runs (two earned) on six hits and walking one batter to improve to 8-2 overall. Closer Eric Pettis pitched a perfect ninth inning to register his conference-leading 10th save of the season.

UCI took a 2-0 lead in the first on an RBI double by Orloff and a sacrifice bunt by Francis Larson to plate the junior shortstop.

However, New Mexico capitalized on two Anteater errors in the bottom of the frame to tie the game at 2-2. The Lobos claimed the 3-2 lead in the fifth on a run-scoring single to right by Ian Hollick.

UCI rallied to knot the score in the seventh. Ollie Linton came up with a two-out single and advanced to second on a balk by pitcher Bobby LaFramboise. Deragisch drove the ball up the middle to score Linton for the game-tying run.

It was Deragisch again in the top of the ninth as the third baseman came up clutch following back-to-back singles by Casey Stevenson and Linton. Larson recorded his 10th double to score Linton and cap the Anteater scoring at five runs.

LaFramboise struck out six and gave up three runs on 10 hits while walking one. Reliever Clinton Cox suffered his first loss, falling to 2-1after giving up two runs on five hits in two innings.